Galen Weston – British-Canadian Businessman

Willard Gordon “Galen” Weston is the head of a grocery empire in Canada, which includes both Weston Foods and Loblaw companies. Not to mention that Weston is in control of Holt Renfrew the second largest luxury good retailer in Canada.

Over the years, this family-run business has expanded to include stores around the world like Selfridges, Brown Thomas, De Bijenkorf, and Ogilvy. Plus, Galen is also the Chairman of a family-based private charitable trust called The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, which has donated almost $200 million in the last decade.

Galen’s father George Weston started many businesses in the United Kingdom and Canada when he was young. While he grew up, Galen worked as a bag boy, as well as in other roles, in his father's many supermarket chains. In 1975, Galen was appointed the Chairman and Managing Director and took over the North American operations with his brother.

Galen and family is estimated at a net worth of approximately $8.9 billion. He is also listed as the second wealthiest man in Canada and 147th in the world by Forbes magazine.

The masculine name Willard is taken from an English surname that is derived from the Germanic name Willihard or the old English cognate Wilheard. The name Willihard is comprised of the elements wil, which means “desire or will” and hard that means “brave or hardy”. There are many notable people with the give name, from Willard Harrison Bennett the American physicist to Willard Dewveall the American football player.